Process of enriching blast-furnace gas.



' Wihwooeo G. ELLIS.

PROCESS OF ENRIGHING BLAST FURNACE GAS.

APPLICATION FILED 13130.16, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED FEB; 5 0. ELLIS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG/.16. 1905.

PROCESS OF ENRIGHING BLAST FURNACE GAS.

WITNESSES:

[NVE/VTOR lia-K 89% mum M2810 Altorneys To all whom it may concern:

CARLETON ELLIS, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

PRocEssoF N'mcHme BLAST-FURNACE eAs.

- Be it known that I, CARLETON ELLrs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of White Plains, in the county of Westchester andState of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Enriching Blast-Furnace Gas, of which the following is I a specification.

This invention relates to a process of generatinglcombustible gas, eminently suited to theoperation of internal-combustion engines from the waste gases of blast-furnaces, and

consists in certain specific operations performed upon such waste gases, whereby their content of carbon monoxid and other combustible constituents is raised, all as more fully hereinafter set forth, matters of novelty being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The gases from a blast-furnace, such as is commonly used in the manufacture of iron, contain a large percentage of combustible matter, chiefly carbon monoxid, and many efiorts have been made in the-past to utilize such gases for the development of power. On the average blast-furnace or tunnel-head as contains about fourteen per cent. of caron dioxid, twenty-four per cent. of carbon monoxid, and about sixty percent. ofnitrogen. In atteni ts to use this gas directly for the operation 0 internal-combustion engines it has been found that engine-cylinders of very large dimensions are required as compared wlth those used for gas of-highercalorific value, and therefore that a-power plant to utilize any considerable ortion of these gases is a very costly instal ation. l'he expense of such a plant in the past has debarred many pig-Iron manufacturers from equipping their plants with internal-combustion en-, ines. These gases, further, contain 'much ust, which is troublesome to remove and which is very detrimental to engine parts.

It is the object of the present invention to produce, with the aid of these waste gases, a clean rich gas well suited to the operation of gas-eng nes.

When a draft of ordinary air is passed into a deep bed of fuel, as in the ordinary gas-producer, the oxygen reacts with the carbon to [form monoxid and dioxid, the latter being in turn reduced to monoxid for the most part as the draft-current passes through the hot fuel.

In forming this monoxid one part, by volume, of oxygen becomes two of the monoxid.

v Specification of Letters latent. Application 131 5 December 16,1905. Serial No- 291,956.

Patented Feb. 5,, 1907.

oxygen, by volume an air-draft current will produce a gas with a maximum content of monoxid of about thirty-five per cent. however, desirable for the operation of internal-combustion engines, to have gas rather It is,

richer than this, thereby permitting the obvtaining of high power with moderate cylinder dimensions. 4 To this end steam is frequently used in operating a producer, since it gives a gas of higher calorific value, yielding both carbon monoxid and hydrogen, both combustible;

but for gas-engines any large amount of hy-. drogen is detrimental to smooth operation, owing to its tendenc to preignition .on high compression and to the fact that it burns at a different rate from carbon monoxid, so that adjustment to the best exploding conditions of one component in a mixed gas containing both hydrogen and monoxid does not meet the requirements of the other. Further, the low compressions which must be used with gas containing hydrogen necessitate. larger and more expensive engines forequal powers.

Since neither air nor the products of combustion from ordinary fuel contain more than about twenty er cent. of oxygen, free or combined, it fo lows that to obtain without steam a gas richer in carbon monoxid-than the limiting thirty five per cent. it is necessary to employ for a draft-current a gas richer in oxygen, free or combined; Such a gas is found in the waste gases from blast furnaces, which contain considerably more combined oxygen than simple'products of combustion, since the reaction of iron oxids on carbon and the evolution of carbon dioxid from the carbonates both yield oxidized carbon Without the presence of a roportion ate amount of -nitrogen, as in or inary combustion. With a gas of the composition stated, for instance, a producer gas with nearly'forty-five per cent. of carbon monoxid can be obtained. In one hundred volumes it already contains twenty-four er cent. of monoxid, and on reduction the fiiurteen per cent. of carbon dio xijd yield twenty eight volumes of monoxid The monoxid is not afiected by its passage through the fuel; but the dioxid is reduced, as stated, and this reduction is attended with an absorption of heat. For this reason blastfurnace gases cannot be passed in an unmixed state through the fuel indefinitely without chilling it below the gasifying-point.

My process consists in passing through the As air contains about twenty percent, 'ufi fuel-bed, together with the blast-furnace IIO with heat-insu the valved air-inlet 32. Gas om the .peratures sufficient to form objectionable oneform, partly in elevation and artly iii be used in the present process goes through 2 conducts the gases to gas-producer 6, extendgases, the amount of air necessary to maintain the heat of the fuel-bed at the gasifying point. Since, as stated, the air does not give as rich a gas as the blast-furnace gases and since its function in the producer is-to keep up tem erature, its amount may be advantageousy reducedby introducing the fur-. mace-gases hot and by heating the air itself. Air and furnace gases are so relatively proportioned as to keep the roducer at an eflicient gasifying-point without causing temclinker or slag.

Blast-furnace gases being combustible, they cannot be mixed with the air before introducing the draft-current, since this would lead to explosions orcombustion; but they are advantageously introduced at points .relatively near each other.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown; more or less diagrammatically, certain forms of the many structures adapted to perform my rocess. In these il ustration's, Figure 1 is a'view of section; and Fig. 2 is a view of anot er form, partly in elevation and partly in section.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a blast-furnace of the con ventional type, having the offtake 2 in its upper part at the tunnel-head. In this offtake is shown an opening 3, cormecting with piping (not shown) for conveying to heatingstoves such portion of the waste gases as may be required therein. The residue which is to to pipe 5, tapping conduit 2 at 4; Pipe 5 ing around the lower ortion of the producer, as a bustleipe, an communicating therewith through twyers "9 10. The producer is provided with a hopper? for the introduction of fuel, the latter being commonly coke or anthracite. Extending up in the center of the producer is the air-tw y er 11, communieating with a source of air under pressure. (Not shown.) Producer 6 depends into the usual water seal 8. Gas from'the roducer is led off through pipe 12 and scrub er 13 to gas-engine 14.

In Fig. 2 blast-furnace 20 delivers waste gases through pipe 21, advantageously lined ating material 22, to ipe 24, tapping 21 at 23. Pipe 24 delivers t e gases through twyers 25 into producer 26. The producer is provided with fuel-hopper 27. Air is delivered through twyers 28, advantageously staggered, as shown, with regard to twyers 25, from a bustle-pipe commun cating with pipe 29, fed by fan 30. Air enters the fan through pipe 31, rovided with rodimer is led through pipe 33 35, encircled by the water-heater or steam-generator 34, scrubber 36, and pipe 37, to gas-engine 38. A controlled proportion of the products of explosion in this engine leaving through pipe 39 may be led through valved pipe 40 and introduced into air-pipe 31 to dilutethe air therein, for a purpose later explained. The residue of such products is led through pipe 41, provided with valve 42, to a jacketing-casing 43, encircling air-pipe 29 and serving to heat the air therein. From 43-the products escape through pipe 44, provided with valve 45. Hot water from 34, or steam, as the case may be, is led through pipe 46, provided with valve 47, to nozzle 48 in pipe 29. In case of emergency or for 7 other reasons the steam may be used in this nozzle to induce the draft-current in lieu of using the fan. Where small amounts of water-vapor are desired, water may trickle through the nozzle into the hot gases in 29.

In using the structure of Fig. 1 a bed of coals is brought to an efiicient gasifying' temperature in the producer and blast-furnace gases and air introduced therein through the appropriate twyers. The carbon dioxid of the furnace-gases is reduced to carbon monoxid with the absorption of heat, While the oxygen of the air also forms monoXid with development of heat, thetwo reactions, with'proper proportioning of thetwo draftculrents, balancing each other and maintaining the fuel at an efficient gasifying temperature without production of objectionable clinker or slag. The gas produced by their conjoint actionis scrubbed to remove any dust or tarry matter, and incidentally cooled to fit it for use in the engine. The bed of fuel in the producer acts as a gas-filter for the blastfurnace gases, removing the dust which has hitherto caused so much trouble in the operation of engines. As stated, the blast-furnace gases being combustible on contact with air in the lower part of the roducer some combustion takes place, but t e carbon dioxid produced is reduced in the upper part of the fuel-bed. Sov far as keeping up the temperature of the fuel is concerned, it is a matter of indifference whether the air unites with the furnacegases or the fuel; but it is more convenient to obviate this combustion as much as may be, and thereby prevent localized develo ment of heat with attendant production of c inker, &"c., and with the necessity for the use of water-cooled grate-bars or bars of refractory material. For this reason in both forms of apparatus shown the airtwyers and gastwyers, while located near each other, are spaced apart.

In the apparatus of Fig. 2 air and gas are both introduced from twyers at the sides of the producer-chamber; but the two kinds of twyers alternate -to minimize combustion. In order to supply as much external heat as possible, and thereby reduce the amount of air necessary, the heat of the blast-furnace gases is preserved as far as possible by the .use of heat-insulating material in the downtake 21, and the air is heated by the waste gases from the gas-engine 38. The side is apt to adhere to' the side walls of the pro'- ducer, and it is desirable to minimize its for- -mation by introducing the furnace -'gases at the sides where they may exercise their chem? 1cal chilhng action. To further reduce the possibility of injurious amounts ,pf clinkerforming, it is advantageous to dilute the airdraft with products of combustion',"which may be conveniently derived from the gasen me, as shown in Fig. 2. This is particular y. advantageous in the side introduction of air, as shown in Fig. 2. Steam-may also be admitted with this air as a cooling agent to prevent formation of mind, however, the fact ieviously stated that too great a quantity 0 hydrogen in the gigs is disadvantageous in' the operation of e on tainin'g' more even temperatures-in the producerand is to be preferred with'certain classes of fuel.

' to it a further amount,

By controlling the relative amounts of blast-furnace gases and air introduced itis obvious that the temperature of the producer may be kept at an 'efiicient gasifyingpoint, and it is also obvious that by using 0th hot, as described, the amount'of the air may be reduced withradvantage to the richness of the gas.

The present process solves a' problem of great importance to iron manufacturers in 'maki possible the use of blast-furnace gases y internalcombustion engines of moderate size without the necessity of employing a very costly plant. Furthermore, a gas of a more uniform quality is obtained. of the gases is not changed or diminished, but it has added with the result of producing a cheap rich gas.

WhatIclaim'is- 1. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines which consistsln continuously passing through a bed of hot fuel a combustible gas containing carbon vmonoxid and reducible amounts of carbon dioxid and in simultaneously passing through said fuel a current of air the relative proportion of air to gas suppliedbeing that required to balance I thermally the endothermic action of the car- 'bon dioxid.

of generating a suitable 2. The process for gas-engines, whlch consistsin continuiassm through adeep bed of hot fuel.

ously a com usti-b e as conta nin carbonfmonoxid and reduci leamoimtso carbon dioxid and in simultaneously injecting neaij the point of entry of said gas'a current of the clinker, bearing in the point of entry of said gases e. The l a izeral introduction of air permits ob relative proportion of air to gas supplied being that required to balance thermallythe endothermic action of the carbon dioxid.

3. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines which consists 1n continuously 'pas'si through a bed of-hot fuel a hot combusti le gas containing substantial amounts of carbon monoxid and reducible amounts of carbon dioxid andin-simultaneously injecting near the point of entry of such gas a current of air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied being that required to balance thermally the endothermic action of thecarbondioxid.

' 4. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines which consists in continu ouslypass ing through a deep bed of hot fuel hot combustible waste gases from a blastfurnace and in simultaneously injecting near a current of air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied being that required to balance thermall the. endothermic action of the carbon dioxid therein contained. 5. The process of generating a. gas suitable for gas-engines which consists 1n continuously passing through a deep bed of hot fuel combustible waste gases from the reduction of iron ore and in simultaneously injecting near the point of entry of said ases 'a current of air the relative proportion 0 plied being that required to balance thermall the endothermic action of the carbon air to gas supdioxld therein contained and to maintain i said fuel at an-eflicient gasifying temperature.

6. The process of generating a gas suitable for. gas-engines which consists in continuousl passing through a bed of hot fuel a com ustible gascontaining carbon monoxid and reducible amounts of carbon dioXid and in simultaneously passin hot current of air the re ative proportion of air to gas supplied bein that required to balance thermally the endothermic action of the carbon dioxid.

7. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines which consists in continuously passin through a deep bed of hot fuelv a combustib e gas containing carbon monoxid and reducible amounts of carbon dioxid, and in simultaneously injecting near the point of entry of such gas a current of hot airthe relative proportion plied being that required to balance thermally the endothermic action of the carbon dioxid.

8. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines which consists in continuthrough said fuel a IIO of air to gas supously passing through a bed of hot fuel a hot combustible gas containing substantial amounts of carbon dioxid and carbon monoxidand in simultaneously injecting near the point of entryof such gas a current of hot air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied being that required to balance thermally" the endothermic action of the carbon dioXid.

9. The process of generating a gas-suitable for gas-engines which consists in continuously passing through a deep bed of hotfuel hot combustible waste gases from a blastfurnace and in simultaneously injecting near the point of entry of such gases a current of hot air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied being that required to balance thermally the endothermic action of the carbon dioxid therein contained.

10. The process of generating a gas suitable for gas-engines Which consists in continuously passing through a deep bed of hot fuel, hot combustible Waste gases from. thetinuously passing through a deep bed of hot fuel hot combustible Waste gases from' the reduction of iron ore and in simultaneously Mame injecting near the point ofentry of said gases, a current of hot air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied bein that required to balance thermally the en othermic action of the carbon dioxid therein contained, said air being diluted with an endothermic agent to prevent localized development of high temperatures in the fuel-bed.

12. The process of generating gas suitable for gas-engines which consists in'contin-uouslypassing through a deep bed of hot fuel hot combustible waste gases from the reduction of iron ore and in simultaneously injecting near the point of entry of such gases a current of hot air the relative proportion of air to gas supplied bein that required to balance thermally the en othermic action of the carbon dioxid therein contained, said air being diluted with roducts of combustion to prevent localized evelopment of high temperature in the fuel-bed. i

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and. State of New York, this 7th day of December, A. D. 1905.

CARLETON ELLIS.

Witnesses:

FLETCHER P.SCOFIELD, FRED I. SMITH. 

